Exploring healthcare providers’ experiences with specialty medication and limited distribution networks

Integrated health-system specialty pharmacies (IHSSP) have shown high medication access, adherence, and provider satisfaction. The goal of this study was to explore healthcare providers’ experiences with specialty medications distributed via Limited Distribution Networks (LDN) that do not include IH...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPloS one Vol. 17; no. 8; p. e0273040
Main Authors Peter, Megan E, Zuckerman, Autumn D, Cherry, Elizabeth, Schlundt, David G, Bonnet, Kemberlee, Shah, Nisha, Kelley, Tara N
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published San Francisco Public Library of Science 15.08.2022
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Subjects
Clinical outcomes
Clinics
Communication
Drug stores
Focus groups
Health care
Health care industry
Health care policy
Insurance coverage
Interviews
Medical care
Medicine and Health Sciences
Patients
People and Places
Prescription drugs
Qualitative analysis
Qualitative research
Quality management
Services
Social Sciences
Workflow
United States
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Summary:Integrated health-system specialty pharmacies (IHSSP) have shown high medication access, adherence, and provider satisfaction. The goal of this study was to explore healthcare providers’ experiences with specialty medications distributed via Limited Distribution Networks (LDN) that do not include IHSSPs. We investigated healthcare providers’ perceived impact of LDNs on clinic workflow, clinical practice, and patient outcomes. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with fourteen healthcare providers from four outpatient specialty clinics at an academic health system with an IHSSP. Qualitative analysis using an iterative inductive/deductive approach of coded transcripts was used to identify themes. Participants discussed requirements and barriers to communicating with insurance providers, drug manufacturers, and external pharmacies; time and effort required to navigate LDNs and impact on workload and clinic workflow; financial awareness of medication costs and methods for communication about financial information with patients; and advocating for patients to ensure access to necessary therapy and avoid missed doses or treatment lapse. Participants reported barriers to navigating LDNs that can interfere with clinic workflow and patient care. IHSSPs may reduce clinic burden by helping patients access, afford, and remain on therapy.
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Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
EC, NS and TNK also contributed equally to this work.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0273040